Conflict of interest, nursing family

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Specializes in Adult Oncology.

A family member is going to be admitted for care to my unit. Do I just tell my charge nurse to be sure not to assign me to their care? If they mistakenly assign me, do I just ask for re-assignment? This won't be a big issue, right?

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

This shouldn't be a big issue. Some nurses are comfortable taking care of people they know and some aren't. I wouldn't want to myself, at least not for most of my family.

Usually you just trade patients with another nurse

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

You should not take care of your family member, and you should try to let your charge nurse know ASAP to avoid scheduling issues.

Remind your family that when you are at work, you may not be able to help or intervene on behalf of them. They should try to respect your boundaries.

Best wishes!

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

Ask what the policy is. My coworker has had two of her grandmas, her grandpa, and her dad a patient on our rehab floor. I had my great grandma here. Just explain that you have to treat them like any other patient.

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Specializes in Geriatric Nursing.

Does it make a difference if you know the patient?

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I have never had a problem caring for family members or friends, however, I always inform them they have the right to refuse me in thier care & I will not hold it against them if they do. My Dad prefered not to have me involved with his care, my sister had no problem with me caring for her. No problem for me either way. If you have problems caring for family & friends you have the right to request not to be assigned to them. Most places are ok with this request and just have you trade off with someone else.

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Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg.

ha ha ha if my mother was admitted to my floor, I would quit before being her nurse! she is a HORRIBLE patient (sorry mom - love you, but you are and you know it)

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I don't want any of my family members to be my patient. I am very emotional and I don't want to see them sick.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Medsurg.
ha ha ha if my mother was admitted to my floor, I would quit before being her nurse! she is a HORRIBLE patient (sorry mom - love you, but you are and you know it)

LOL mine is too. On top of that she is completely non-compliant with what I tell her, however, if my sister in law (also an RN) tells her the same thing, it might as well be gospel. MOTHERS!!! gotta luv em

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Specializes in adult ICU.

Wow, I'm really surprised that so many have you responded that you have done this and it has been allowed. Most places I have worked, it has been a policy that you don't care for family/friends for their privacy and conflict of interest reasons.

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.
ha ha ha if my mother was admitted to my floor, I would quit before being her nurse! she is a HORRIBLE patient (sorry mom - love you, but you are and you know it)

:D Is that you, Sis? My mother is a horrible patient too. Very non-compliant, bossy, knows it all. And she's even WORSE if she's not the patient. She is well known to show up at the hospital wearing her "I'm a REAL nurse" tshirt. My sister had her baby in the hospital where mom worked in L&D. Mother was totally obnoxious! She kept turning the pitocin up and wanted to check her dilation(yeah, like *thats* gonna happen:eek:) She was utterly contemptuous of the nurses--her own coworkers.:uhoh3: The next day, DSis and her husband sent the staff a bunch of pizzas and an 'I'm sorry" note. Sometimes it's good to live 400 miles away...

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